Latest news with #rental


Independent Singapore
3 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
‘Felt like jail': Tenant exposes landlord's wild rules and CCTV outside toilet
SINGAPORE: A man went on record earlier this week to shine a spotlight on a stringent tenancy agreement that caused him and his girlfriend to move out in just one month. Speaking to Shin Min Daily News, Ye Guohua said that he wanted to warn others to prevent them from making the same mistake he had. Mr Ye wrote that although he and his girlfriend had only moved in in May, they already transferred from the room they rented in Bedok by June 4, as they were no longer willing to put up with the overly strict contract from their landlord. The 48-year-old mobile phone shop worker said he found a room advertised at Block 529 Bedok North Street 3 on Facebook. The rental price was listed as $1,050. Finding this to be reasonable, he and his girlfriend rented the room. It did not take long, however, until their new digs started feeling like a nightmare. Telling the Chinese-language daily that he had not realised the landlord would be so strict, he added, 'It felt like I was in prison.' Mr Ye admitted he and his girlfriend had failed to pay close attention to the tenancy agreement which had at least 20 rules. The property agent did not draw attention to it or warn them about it either. According to the landlord's rules, Mr Ye and his girlfriend, along with the other tenants, needed to clear the floor of the toilet of every single strand of hair after they used it. They were also not allowed to leave their soap or shampoo in the bathroom. Also, tenants were only allowed to use the washing machine on Fridays. While the landlord may have had their reasons for the rules above, some seemed rather bizarre, including tenants not being allowed to use their mobile phones or talk loudly in the living room. They were also not to switch on the living room light, and Mr Ye had to resort to buying a flashlight so he could get to the bathroom in the middle of the night. When the landlord felt that the household rules were being disobeyed, they would text the tenants to scold them at 3 or 4 am. The hardest thing for Mr Ye was that there were three CCTV cameras within the flat, with one directly outside the toilet. 'We were being monitored all the time,' he told Shin Min Daily News. Fed up, the couple left. Unfortunately, they were allegedly unable to get back their full deposit, receiving only half (S$500) because the landlord claimed they allowed one of the movers to use the bathroom on the day they moved out. The landlord said this was in breach of their tenancy agreement. A message allegedly from the landlord that Mr Ye showed the Chinese-language daily reads, 'The house toilet is not a public toilet, and breaking the TA is supposed to deduct the full deposit.' /TISG Read also: 'I know she is the landlord but…' – Tenant thinks landlady enters her room without permission


Washington Post
a day ago
- Washington Post
Renting with apps like Airbnb and Vrbo used to be so great. What happened?
I'm writing to you from a home rental in France where we had to rent our sheets and towels. No joke, 15 euros a day. When we leave, we have to bring them back — folded. And then it hit me: Were we given the last renter's dirty linens? We rented an Airbnb in Lisbon a couple of years ago. It was on the fifth floor of an apartment building and promised 180-degree views of the city below. But when we arrived late that night, there were no views of the city. There were only views of scaffolding out of every window. Disappointed, we threw our bags down and sat on the bed. It collapsed.


Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
UK's Ashtead sees rental revenue growth slowing amid US construction woes
June 17 (Reuters) - British construction equipment rental company Ashtead (AHT.L), opens new tab on Tuesday said it expects annual growth in group rental revenue to be between flat to 4%, citing continued weakness in the U.S. commercial construction market. The company reported a 4% growth in group rental revenue for the financial year ending April 30, 2025.


Vogue
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
Why a Wedding Dress Rental Might Be the Perfect Addition to Your Bridal Wardrobe
Did you know that having a wedding dress rental is actually a common practice in countries like Japan, South Korea, and China? While in the United States, brides spend an average of over $1,000 on a dress they'll wear only once, it's possible to find an alternative that costs much less and has a minimal carbon footprint. While the options are somewhat limited if you're looking to rent a dramatic ball gown in the United States, there are a growing number of rental options if you're looking for a white cocktail look or a sleek slip. 'In my experience, brides are more inclined to rent dresses for pre-wedding events and the reception or after party rather than their main ceremony gown,' shares Kate Loscalzo, founder of Something White Styling, which offers curated rentals along with bridal styling services. 'The actual wedding dress often involves more personalized alterations and reflects a very specific, individual style preference.' That said, the number of rental services has grown in recent years, providing great options for to-be-weds that want to save a little as it's becoming more common to have multiple wedding day looks. 'Renting your wedding wardrobe is definitely becoming more popular,' says Loscalzo. 'Brides can explore multiple looks for different wedding events without exceeding their budget, experience wearing a high-end designer piece without paying the full retail value, support a more conscious, circular approach to fashion, have the freedom to wear something modern or bold without the long-term commitment, and eliminate the need to store or preserve numerous white dresses that may not be worn again.' Depending on the rental service you choose, you might not even have to stress about cleaning the dress after you've worn it. 'It's so nice not to have to worry about dry-cleaning after your bridal event! Just pack it up and use the prepaid label to return the rental items to us and we'll handle the rest,' shares Kaitlyn Bailey, VP of fashion and buying at Rent The Runway. Of course, be wary that a bit too much wear can translate to later shelling out a hefty damage fee. 'Even though it's rented, it's still a designer piece and they can be delicate,' notes Loscalzo. 'Jumping in a pool is—unfortunately—not a good idea.' Think you may want a rental in your bridal fashion lineup? Read ahead to learn everything about how you can rent an ensemble for your wedding events. How Do Wedding Dress Rentals Work? Renting a wedding dress is a reasonably seamless process depending on what service you use. There are a few boutiques that rent dresses that allow you to try on a potential rental in person before deciding on your choice. Others just have you choose the rental for a website or app and set the days when you will have the dress in your possession. In most cases, you need to pay for the rental before it is sent to you. After the rental period passes, you either will ship back the gown or drop it off in person. How Much Is a Wedding Dress Rental? Depending on where you're ordering from and the designer of the garment, your dress rental can range from $12 to $1200. While you might not be able to keep the dress after the big day, you can have the peace of mind that you're likely saving a pretty penny on your wedding budget. 'Renting allows brides to wear designer-quality styles without the price tag or waste,' says Bailey. 'You're only paying about 10 percent of the retail value to rent the item for the weekend, so instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a new dress, you could rent one for around $50.' Can You Alter a Rental Wedding Dress? The short answer: not very much. While a few wedding dress rental companies will allow some small adjustments to a garment like hemming or shortening straps, others won't allow you to do much more than using styling tools like fashion tape. If you need to do anything more drastic, it's a good idea to find an option in a different size. 'We do offer some dress styles in petite and long lengths as well as a free backup size when placing a reserve one-time rental order,' notes Bailey. If all else fails, you might want to stick with purchasing a piece that you can properly alter to your measurements. Wedding Dress Rental Companies So where exactly can you rent a dress for your special day? See a few options ahead. Subscription Services While you may be familiar with Rent the Runway's subscription-based model, the popular clothing rental company offers an eight-day rental reserve that can be booked up to four months in advance for a single garment. 'The eight-day rental also includes the option to book a free backup size,' shares Bailey. 'Additionally, accessories like clutches and earrings are available to rent for only $15.' You could also rent something from the five-item or 10-item subscription packages, but you won't be able to ensure the piece is available in your size until the day you book the rental.


New York Times
05-06-2025
- Business
- New York Times
America's Summer Hot Spots Wonder: Will the Vacationers Still Come?
Tim Cafferty, who owns a vacation rental business on North Carolina's Outer Banks, is upbeat about the summer season, but he is also doing anything he can to lure would-be vacationers. His company, Outer Banks Blue, ran a special promotion in March offering a 15 percent discount on bookings. He is encouraging property owners to drop their prices. And for the first time, he is allowing visitors to reserve many of the 300 houses his company manages for just a few days instead of requiring them to stay a full week. All that has helped juice his sales, but there are still surprising vacancies. The week of the Fourth of July, a highly coveted rental period, is 'very soft for some reason,' Mr. Cafferty said. And more houses than usual are still available for late August, which could be because people are waiting until the last minute to book their getaways. In the end, Mr. Cafferty said, he would count himself lucky if Outer Banks Blue's occupancy levels this summer ended flat compared with last year given the uncertain economic climate. 'People are ready to come,' he said. 'They are just looking for a good price.' Mr. Cafferty's cautious optimism in the face of those worrisome trends is indicative of how many business owners in popular vacation areas are approaching the crucial summer months. Although American consumers are showing some signs of strain amid concerns about higher prices and the prospect of a recession, many businesses that cater to domestic tourists are preparing, somewhat guardedly, for what they expect to be a relatively normal summertime surge. Their bullishness is not unfounded. For all the concerns in recent years that consumer spending would buckle under soaring inflation and high borrowing costs, it has managed to remain solid, powering economic growth even when the economic outlook was hazy. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.